Acting App
Spanish II has almost finished putting together their apps for EMT’s, so now it is time to test them out. But how to test products designed for emergency situations without…death?
In the words of Jon Lovitz, “…aaaacting!”
Now, the apps will not be officially published on the due date, as they must undergo the Appsbar team’s scrutiny before being added to the Appcatch marketplace for use on any and all smartphones. However, my brand-spankin’-new classroom is equipped with a board of the SMART variety, ie, an overgrown touchscreen. All the better to keep the class (and observing principals) in on the action, que no?
So what else do we need for an engaging, reflective, interactive demonstration of what the different groups’ apps can and can’t do when it comes down to the wire?
- Scenarios taken from the areas of expertise represented in all app groups (in this case, breaks, bleeds, burns, poisoning, allergic reactions, and heart attacks), to be distributed al azar, with the drawing of a card. We could use the scenarios kiddos came up with to tell an actor how to fake their respective traumas, but we will, instead, go with ones modeled on symptoms described in various online sources.
- A checklist based on the project rubric for quick, efficient evaluation of app quality by all audience members.
- A role for each of the 3 app group members: one can touch the SMARTboard, one can touch the patient, and ONLY ONE can speak English (as the apps are designed for EMT’s who do not speak Spanish but need to).
- A patient (or five), either the lovely lady pictured here or some of the very fine thespians of your class. I have some Grade A actores in this crop, so I’m going with the latter. Plus I don’t trust Srta. Olivia’s vocal talents.
- A system whereby each group tests a different group’s app.
Then what happens?
- Align the rubric with the checklist. I suggest a little color coding, e.g. “Easy and accessible” is yellow, so all of the checklist questions that apply to that category get outlined/underlined/highlighted in yellow.
- Alert students to the necessity of participation, probably with a completion grade for A) filling out the checklists for all groups besides their own and B) participating in the discussion of each group’s evaluation.
- Assure them, oh yes, there will be discussion–IN SPANISH. Prepare them to give their overall ratings 1-10, name the problems and positive attributes as well as specific questions/ instructions/ responses that demonstrate these problems or strengths. For example:
Q: ¿Qué número le das a esta app, Beto?A: Ocho.Q: ¿Por qué, Beto?A: Porque es fácil de usar y puedo escuchar todo, PERO no tiene respuestas para todas las preguntas.Q: ¿Qué pregunta no tiene respuesta, Beto?A: La pregunta “¿Cuándo empezó el dolor?”At which point I might ask for examples from the class of possible responses.
- Dangle a prize of some sort, perhaps a fabulous cash *coughpesocough* prize or extra credit, for the app with the highest composite score as compiled from class whiteboard scoreboards. (Bonus for fabulous patient actors?)
- NOTE: “scores” are NOT the final grades.
Then, once everyone is clear on what’s about to go down, the first group (volunteer or victim) draws the first scenario, passing it off to the designated actor without looking. They determine who mans the SMARTboard, who mans the patient, and who mans the…English language, I guess. Then the acting begins, the group discusses (in Spanish, except for the one English speaker) which button needs to be pressed on the projected app. The patient responds, and the scenario goes on until there is an accurate diagnosis and some form of treatment (hopefully no more than 5 minutes–we’ll say the patient dies in 5 minutes, even if it’s a sprained ankle).
Then the class gives their respective checklists a once-over, each person tallying the points out of 10 earned and displaying the score on their boards. (I might need a scorekeeper.)
After the final demonstration, a quick review of group evaluation terms before the group evaluation form filling and the self-reflective writing, to be wrapped up with the App Más Excelente award before moving on to the entry event for the next unit.
